Method and apparatus for multi-mode tracking and display of personnel locations in a graphical model

Abstract

The preferred embodiment provides an ultra-wide band radio frequency real-time location system (RTLS), synchronized with a GPS location system to provide reliable location data, in and around concrete and steel superstructures to a BIM graphic model system, to gather and display worker location data and coordinate its display for use. The RTLS system continuously locates each participant through the use of an active RFID tag and/or GPS location device, which may be placed in a personnel badge and verified. The location system logs the participant locations in a database for real-time information retrieval and upload into a BIM display system.

1 . A system for tracking and displaying personnel location in a graphical building model comprising:
 a computer having a processor designated to carry out a computer implemented method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a set of demographic data related to the personnel; 
 receiving a set of personnel location data for a predetermined period of time; 
 assigning the set of personnel location data to a zone; 
 correlating the set of demographic data with the set of personnel location data; 
 deriving a visual abstraction related to the set of demographic data, the personnel location data, and the zone; 
 assigning a color transparency value to the zone according to a range of total number of personnel in the zone; 
 displaying the visual abstraction in the graphical building model as a wire frame model in three dimensions; and, 
 displaying the zone with the transparency value. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the graphical building model is a building information modeling (BIM) model. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the visual abstraction includes a subset of demographic data from the set of demographic data. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is designated to carry out the step of:
 correlating the graphical building model to a known GPS coordinate system. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further designated to carry out the step of:
 displaying the zone in a building information modeling (BIM) model overlay. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further designated to carry out the step of:
 assigning a time stamp to a subset of personnel location data in the set of personnel location data. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is further designated to carry out the step of:
 sorting, by a processor, the synchronized location data by geographic zone. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the processor is further designated to carry out the step of:
 allocating, by the processor, the location of each of the personnel for the predetermined time period into a specific zone, at a predetermined time period. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the processor is further designated to carry out the step of:
 counting, by the processor, a total number of personnel for each zone. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the processor is further designated to carry out the steps of:
 assigning a higher transparency value to lesser numbers of total personnel; 
 assigning a lower transparency value to higher numbers of total personnel in each zone; 
 displaying colors with high transparency values as nearly transparent for each zone; 
 displaying colors with low transparency values as more opaque in each zone; 
 assigning a color transparency value that indicates a number of personnel in each zone for a given time period; 
 providing a colored geometric representation of each person, located in a zone for the predetermined time period; 
 assigning a geometric shape to each person; 
 assigning one of a sphere or a cube as the geometric shape; 
 scaling the geometric shape to be recognized in the BIM model; 
 assigning a color to each person depending on a demographic criteria; 
 wherein the demographic criteria is a profession of the person; 
 locating the shape at the synchronized position for each person; 
 converting the color transparency values to a set of encoded records; and, 
 converting at least one record of the set of encoded records to a color transparency by the BIM modeler in each zone, for each time period. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for tracking and displaying personnel location in a graphical building model implemented on a computer having a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a set of demographic data related to the personnel;   receiving a set of personnel location data for a predetermined period of time;   assigning the set of personnel location data to a zone;   correlating the set of demographic data with the set of personnel location data;   deriving a visual abstraction related to the set of demographic data, the personnel location data, and the zone;   assigning a color transparency value to the zone according to a range of total number of personnel in the zone;   displaying the visual abstraction in the graphical building model as a wire frame model in three dimensions; and,   displaying the zone with the transparency value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the graphical building model is a building information modeling (BIM) model. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the visual abstraction includes a subset of demographic data from the set of demographic data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of:
 correlating the graphical building model to a known GPS coordinate system. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of:
 displaying the zone in a building information modeling (BIM) model overlay. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of:
 assigning a time stamp to a subset of personnel location data in the set of personnel location data. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of:
 sorting, by a processor, the synchronized location data by geographic zone. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 allocating, by the processor, the location of each of the personnel for the predetermined time period into a specific zone, at a predetermined time period. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 counting, by the processor, a total number of personnel for each zone. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 assigning a higher transparency value to lesser numbers of total personnel; 
 assigning a lower transparency value to higher numbers of total personnel in each zone; 
 displaying colors with high transparency values as less opaque for each zone; 
 displaying colors with low transparency values as more opaque in each zone; 
 assigning a color transparency value that indicates a number of personnel in each zone for a given time period; 
 providing a colored geometric representation of each person, located in a zone for the predetermined time period; 
 assigning a geometric shape to at least one person; 
 scaling the geometric shape to be recognized in the BIM model; 
 assigning a color to each person depending on a demographic criteria; 
 wherein the demographic criteria is a profession of the person; 
 locating the shape at the synchronized position for each person; 
 converting the color transparency values to records of an encoded file; and, 
 converting a record of the encoded file to a color transparency by the BIM modeler in each zone, for each time period.